6.--Died at Gaywood, aged 70, Mr. Thomas Marsters, for many years the
representative at Lynn of the NORFOLK CHRONICLE. "He was extensively
read in the poets and classics, and his taste for the drama induced him,
when he resided at Gaywood Hall, to become lessee of Lynn Theatre, on the
boards of which he occasionally performed as an amateur."
9.--Norwich and many parts of the county were visited by one of the
severest thunderstorms that had occurred for many years. It was
accompanied by a hailstorm which did immense damage--in the city windows
and conservatories were smashed, in the county garden and field crops
were destroyed. The first floors and cellars in Surrey Street, St.
Stephen's Street, Rampant Horse Street, the Market Place, and London
Street were flooded, and in places morsels of ice lay from four to five
inches deep. The storm lasted half an hour. The performance at the
Theatre was stopped, and the terrified audience in the gallery rushed
down the stairs and found the passage filled with water, which prevented
their escape. The river at Bishop Bridge rose one foot in five minutes.
At two o'clock on the morning of the 10th, the rain and hail again
descended with great violence, and "a surface of flame spread across the
heavens, followed by a clap of thunder which seemed to rend the welkin."
Another storm occurred on the 15th, and on the 18th waterspouts were
observed at Rushall and Dickleburgh. At a meeting at the Bishop's Palace
on the 19th, steps were taken for the relief of the sufferers, a public
subscription organized, and surveyors appointed to assess the damage. In
September the Committee reported that the total losses amounted to 30,770
pounds 2s. 3d. In some parishes a voluntary rate of threepence in the
pound was paid to assist the relief fund. The contributions from the
parishes amounted to 5,622 pounds, and individual subscriptions to 4,391
pounds.
16.--The left wing of the Cavalry Barracks at Norwich was destroyed by a
fire which originated in the forage barn. The men of the Scots Greys
succeeded in saving the remainder of the buildings.
31.--Died at Stisted Hall, Essex, aged 87, Mr. Charles Savill Onley,
bencher of the Middle Temple. He was third son of Mr. Robert Harvey,
merchant and banker, of Norwich, by Judith, daughter of Capt. Onley, R.N.
Mr. Onley (then Mr. Charles Harvey) was called to the Bar on November
24th, 1790. In 1783 he was elected Steward, and in 1801 Recorder, of
Norwich. In 1804 his portrait was painted by Lawrence, at the expense of
the Corporation, and hung in St. Andrew's Hall. In 1812 he was returned
to Parliament, and at the dissolution in 1818 retired from the
representation of the city, but sat for Carlow from 1820 to 1826. It was
in December, 1822, that he took the name of Savill Onley, on the death of
his maternal uncle, the Rev. Charles Onley, through whom he came to the
possession of a fine estate in Essex, besides a large personal property.
He resigned his Recordership in 1826. He was lieutenant-colonel of Col.
Patteson's battalion of Norwich Volunteers, enrolled in 1808 as a
regiment of Local Militia. He married, first, Sarah, daughter of Mr. J.
Haynes, by whom he had issue one son, Onley Savill Onley, who married his
cousin Caroline, daughter of Mr. John Harvey, of Thorpe; and two
daughters, Sarah, married to Mr. William Harvey, and Judith, to Mr.
Charles Turner. Mrs. Harvey died in 1800, and he married, secondly,
Charlotte, sister of his former wife.